tasty grain free recipes from a former omnivore

Tag Archives: healthy

Is it just me, or does winter seem to be a hard time to remember to include fresh vegetables in the dinner line up? The allure or roasting every vegetable that crosses my path into a sweet and caramelized nirvana is almost always too much to resist. But once in awhile, a salad comes along that does that perfect little thing of brightening up a hearty rich mid-winter meal like nothing else can. And this shaved carrot and parsley salad is exactly that.

Because even though you’ve bookmarked every recipe for a slow braise you can get your hands on, and you’re making a giant pot of soup once a week, a little fresh veggie salad can still have that magic way of bringing a dinner together and making it feel like a real adult meal.

And adult meals can be hard sometimes.

Maybe I’m feeling especially compelled to share the recipe for this carrot salad with you because all I ate today was scrambled eggs, 1/2 an avocado, and 2 grain free scones (<— Not an adult meal, but it is real life.) And all I really want right now is some yummy healthy food to even out the playing field. You know, so I can eat more cookies. Recipe testing all the holiday goodies for the blog comes at a price, yo.

But in truth, this time of year more than ever, we gotta remember to take care of ourselves. November –> December burnout is a THING, and a good place to start when it comes to staying on track of self care (aka focusing on something other than all the holiday gifts you need to buy, parties you’re attending, all the outfits for said parties that need to be assembled, cookies that need to be baked for the fam, etc etc etc.. all during a season when you’re ALSO just supposed to be grateful for what you have and the people in your life but the world is sending such MIXED MESSAGES. It can be stressful, can’t it? Whew. That was a mouthful.)… is with your FOOD!

So simple, but so powerful.

It reminds us to slow down. It reminds us what is really the most important. It also reminds us that we already have a lot of the tools we need to take care of ourselves.

In last week’s installment of Rob Brezsny’s Astrology letter I was reminded (hiii fellow Virgo’s!) that the question of what I might do to take better care of myself will be a very relevant one in the coming year. That loving oneself is a great way to explore what that might look like, and that there’s still a lot to learn in this department. Which is pretty good advice even if you’re not into the whole astrology thing. Never stop holding the question: How could I do this better? And I just know that food plays an important role in that picture. It always does, right?

I have been sitting on this recipe for so so long! Just waiting for the right moment to share it with you. And now that it’s officially December, I think it’s exactly the right time to show you how to make THE MOST EPIC peppermint mocha bulletproof coffee.

Coffee + peppermint + chocolate = one of those drinks that every cold day in December deserves.

On the weekends, topped off with a little whipped cream situation, and on the weekdays just whipped up quick as can be and poured it into a thermos on your way out the door for the perfect start to your day. Waaay healthier than the coffee shop’s peppermint mocha – have you ever read that long long list of ingredients on their mocha syrup? I will take a scoop of natural cacao powder over that any day of the week.

Plus everyone will think you’re toting around a regular cup of coffee or tea, when in reality you’ve got the most delicious (and HEALTHY!) peppermint mocha keeping you company. Totally a secret worth smiling about. And if they’re lucky you might even let them in on your sweet little mocha thrill.

Anyone else feel like they’re still unwinding from the holiday? While I love love love spending time with friends and family and sharing good food, it always takes me awhile to get back into the groove of things afterwards. There are some things that have been helping me get back into the flow – exercise, quiet down time for reading or watching favorite movies (currently mid Harry Potter marathon!), and making easy, nourishing meals like this creamy dairy free parsnip and chive soup.

A good soup recipe is at the top of the list of my all time favorite things, and favorite ways to warm up. Especially this time of year when every day IS RAIN and I literally need just as many lights on in my house during the day as I do at night.

Not even exaggerating.

These are the days that I dream of spending the winter in someplace warm and tropical.